Crackled Christmas Plaques - by Alison

Hello everyone, Alison here from Words and Pictures.  Last time I shared some 3D filigree verdigris baubles with you, and today I'm back with some of the two-dimensional versions.  These are perfect to use as a feature on Christmas cards - and you'd still be able to send them as a flat letter through the post.

I still seem to be a reluctant card-maker so I've used mine on three of the Birch Plywood Plaques, and of course I've been at the crackle again!

I started by gluing book pages to the solid baubles.  Once the glue is dry, I usually press down around the edges and then use an emery board to file away the unwanted paper.  These are both the Plain Bauble - Style 1.

I also glued some book page pieces to my Oval Plaque (and you can find the Rectangle Plaques here, as well as many other shapes and styles)...

... before painting all three plaques with various shades of DecoArt paint.  I don't remember all the colours now, but the Rustic Chalky Finish and Media Fluid Acrylic Prussian Blue Hue are both definitely in there!  I put some of the Americana Chalk Crackle Medium over the top and left it to dry.

The top layer is DecoArt Chalky Finish in Lace, a soft warm white which I think looks great with the warm brown of the Calico Craft Parts.  I've added very light washes of Cobalt Blue Hue and Dioxazine Purple Fluid Acrylics for a bluesy look to echo the colour under the crackles.

And because all that paint had covered up almost all sign of the book pages underneath (though they're still adding a lovely textural roughness) I added some book text stamping to get back some of that background detailing.

I gave the book page baubles a wash of white, and added some gentle inking around the edges for extra dimension.

But I was also keen to have some "naked" Craft Parts - so on each of the book page baubles there's one of the fantastic snowflakes from the Mini Christmas Shapes - Snowflakes 1 set.  These are so intricate and delicate - and you get 16 snowflakes in various styles in one sheet.

I "hung" two of the filigree baubles on my plaques too... the Snowflake Bauble Style 2...

... and the Snowflake Bauble Style 4.  Anyone who saw my November Tim tag over at Words and Pictures will know I was pretty taken with the gilding technique, and I couldn't resist adding some here too.

I love it on the "naked" craft parts... especially on the bauble hanging on this very sweet raggedy little tree, the Christmas Tree Style 1.

And I think it looks great around the edges...

... adding a look of gilded antiquity to the crackled, weathered plaques.

I happened upon these fabulous Alphabet Letters - Copperplate Gothic sheets the last time I was browsing on the Calico Craft Parts website... can't believe I hadn't seen them before.

I pressed out the letters for my chosen words (and I've still got lots left to play with - very impressed with all the extra "e"s they provide - that's so intelligent!)...

... and gave those a touch of gilding too.

It's just a hint, but I love how it catches the light and draws the eye's attention.

I drew on some "thread" to hang the baubles up.

And of course I needed some earthy inking around the edges, toning in with the colour of the Craft Parts themselves.

And I'm quietly pleased with the finished effect.

So there are my three Christmas plaques for you.  I hope you like them.  If you're tempted into a bit of Christmas Craft Parts shopping, you just have to click on any of the links in the text and you'll be taken straight to the relevant bit of the Calico Craft Parts website.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I'll see you again soon.

Alison xx
Words and Pictures